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Ford Focus RS Named 2016 Vehicle Dynamics International Car of the Year

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Ford Performance team with Focus RS

The Ford Focus RS, amazing vehicle that it is, has earned another major award. The 350-horsepower hot hatch was named the Car of the Year in the 2016 Vehicle Dynamics International Awards, and the team behind it won the award for Dynamics Team of the Year.

The VDI awards are voted upon by a panel consisting of 23 independent automotive journalists. The Focus RS was praised in particular for its superior handling and for being fun to drive. Jim Kenzie of the Toronto Star said that the Focus RS “simply rewrites the rulebook for how sporting hatchbacks behave” and “blends performance and pure driving pleasure like few cars ever have.”


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“We set the bar high for the Focus RS, to deliver a world-beating hot hatch worthy of the Rallye Sport badge with the most exhilarating and dynamic RS driving experience yet,” said Tyrone Johnson, vehicle engineering manager, Ford Performance. “Ford Performance is honored to receive two awards from Vehicle Dynamics International, and proud to have developed a car that sets new standards for affordable hot hatch performance.”

Ford has won a total of six Vehicle Dynamics International Awards, more than any other automaker, but the Focus RS’ victory marks the first time a Ford has been named its Car of the Year. The last time Ford won two VDI Awards in the same year was 2013, when Ford won the Dynamics Team of the Year and specialist David Put was named Dynamicist of the Year. In all, Ford has won a total of four Dynamics Team of the Year honors.

The 2016 Focus RS was also recently named the 2016 Car of the Year by Top Gear Magazine.


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